Gen5 or DDR5 RAM disks are compatible with RAID 0 configurations.
Gen5 or DDR5 RAM disks are compatible with RAID 0 configurations.
I’ve evaluated this program on various systems and reached these insights: My older setup uses a DDR3 system with an SSD, some Intel chipset and ample RAM. My personal machine upgraded to a 3080 with a 4090 and Gen3 NVMe, featuring a Ryzen 7 and DDR4. For my professional use, the software occasionally freezes when used rapidly. It handles CAD and bill of materials tasks with Tekla Structures, though the optimization isn’t great. It’s an older tool, updated slowly like AutoCAD. I’m considering whether saving files in a RAM disk or RAID 0 SSD would help. When running at high speeds, I sometimes check Task Manager—no major spikes, just occasional activity. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but now I suspect random reads and writes are the real issue. These are tiny files being accessed frequently. The graphics cards are more than sufficient for my needs, and the processor is adequate. Even with DDR4 and a Gen3 SSD, performance lags in tougher scenarios compared to the newer system.
Questions for others: Can anyone with DDR5 set up a crystal disk mark on a RAM disk? I’m interested in smaller random read/write speeds.
And regarding paid versions: Have you tried them? I’m not concerned about crashes or power failures. My automated backups are reliable, and I’d prefer not to manually copy files after a restart. (Maybe a script could handle that.) Thanks for your assistance.
RAID0 doesn't boost "IOPS" levels. Neither Gen5 SSDs nor Intel Optane (like the Intel 900P) surpasses DDR4 storage. DDR5 might improve performance but currently offers only a modest gain—possibly double that of top-end DDR4. By the way, if you're comparing to Autocad, consider pushing a single core to its maximum speed or using the fastest single-threaded CPU available. Ensure system stability remains intact.
The image was captured on a 13700K with DDR5 7200 CL34-44-40-40 and custom sub-timings, making it nearly as fast as possible. Much of the performance depends on the software you use and its minimal overhead. This was the first one I discovered (ImDisk), so interpret accordingly. For comparison, the second software (SoftPerfect RAM Disk) behaves very differently on the same configuration.
Great news! This addresses most of your concerns. Yes, upgrading is a solid move. Right now I’m using Gen3 NVMe and my ImDisk RAM disk on DDR4 (how did that happen? 😂). I’m considering trying SoftPerfect and, if successful, will go ahead with the purchase. I’ll post about my hardware soon!
Tekla creates a core backup after every 10 model changes, plus one per hour. All backups are stored in Dropbox. Whenever I pause, I save the model and perform a backup to Dropbox as well.
EDIT: I should mention I also have a battery backup. Soon I’ll set up an automated one too. ImDisk offers a sync feature with a folder option, and it preserves everything at shutdown (just make sure fast boot is off). It also includes a sync button. I’d like an option to sync every X time, perhaps via command line for automation. This could really help! I might finally get Tekla—previously a hassle when overloaded, now it runs smoothly. It means I won’t get distracted mid-task… I’ll check my phone, then Facebook, and still finish work on time.
Updated: February 14, 2024 – Avaviel